Mr. Lanvil Harrigan
Interim Chairperson
Anguilla Air and Sea Ports Authority
The Valley
Anguilla
Date: June 18, 2013
His Excellency The Governor
William A. Harrison
Government House
Old Ta
Anguilla
Subject: Impact of closure of the Dolphin Discovery on the Anguilla Air and Sea Ports Authority
Dear Sir,
Clause 16 of the Anguilla Air and Sea Ports Authority (AASPA) Act (the Act) states that: The objects of the Authority are to engage in activities such as to (a) manage and operate the ports of Anguilla, and related facilities in such a manner that the public has access to services that are reliable, safe and economic. The AASPA Board of Directors (the Board) would like to place on record our dissatisfaction over the role in which you played to ensure the closure of Dolphin Discovery. This shall undoubtedly create shortfalls in revenue at the Blowing Point Port in particular and for AASPA in general. This will subsequently result in a reduction in the reliability, safety and economics of the services provided at the ports. Unreliable services at the ports will cause disgruntlement, chaos and inefficiencies in authority. Deficient safety and security at the ports will cause challenges for port security, which will result in the failure of standards of Air Safety Support International (ASSI). Inadequate economic services will subsequently adversely impact the financial viability of the ports.
Clause 16 of the Act continues by stating (b) maintain and from time to time repair, alter or replace, in whole or in part, the ports of Anguilla, and related facilities. The loss of revenue from the Dolphin Discovery customers that transit through the Blowing Point Port shall create limitations for the maintenance and facilities management at the ports. Clause 16 concludes by stating: (c) upgrade and extend the ports and related facilities in all parts of Anguilla to the extent that it is reasonable for the Authority to do so. The closure of the Dolphin Discovery reduces the possibility of AASPA to reasonably upgrade and make the ports sustainable. Anguilla is disadvantaged due to the lack of natural resources and manufacturing. Therefore, trade through the AASPA ports are critical for Anguilla to adequately function as a society. AASPA requires that revenue streams to maintain, expand and replace the ports of Anguilla to facilitate the fundamental trade services that will allow Anguilla to adequately function as a society.
There is no doubt that there are various revenue related adverse effects that the closure of the Dolphin Discovery shall have on the Blowing Point Port in particular and AASPA in general. No specific or substantial adverse social, environmental or economic impacts that have been circulated does not appear to qualify to justify the closure of the Dolphin Discovery. Opinionated inhuman arguments have to be weighed against initiatives such as the Dolphin Discovery, which are crucial to the attraction of tourist to the Anguillan tourism product. The functioning of the AASPA ports are primarily reliant on users of the ports. A considerable amount of port users are visitors and tourist. The frequency of visitors and tourist that use the ports is determined on the attraction of Anguilla as a tourist destination. It is important that Anguilla is attractive for it to compete with other tourist destinations. The Dolphin Discovery is one of the means by which Anguilla compete for tourist. Any competitive mechanism that is removed from what Anguilla can offer to tourist puts Anguilla at a competitive disadvantage. This subsequently adversely impacts various stratums of society and the economy. The decision to close the Dolphin Discovery further adversely impacts the well being of Anguillans and hinders the growth of Anguilla as a competitive tourist destination. All of these factors impact the financial viability and self sustainability of AASPA to effectively function, and therefore you should be held accountable for the uncivilized nature of your involvement in the above.
Sincerely,
Mr. Lanvil Harrigan
Interim Chairperson
Anguilla Air and Sea Ports Authority
Cc: Attorney General
Chief Minister
(Published by The Anguillian newspaper without editing)
